1. I think the best demonstration of a character vs. character conflict is when Bilbo Baggins is face to face with Gollum, small, slimy creature that was as dark as darkness, with big, pale, glowing eyes on his thin face (description on p. 79). Gollum lived on a slimy island of rock in the middle of the dark lake. It was almost pitch black in there, so Bilbo couldn't see anything. Gollum eats almost anything he can get his filthy paws on, LOVE THIS- filthy paws!!! and that includes Bilbo! They decided to have a riddle contest. Those two made a deal: If Gollum gets a riddle wrong, he would show Bilbo the way out. If Bilbo gets a riddle wrong, well, Gollum would eat him. The riddles went back and forth, over and over, asking riddles I couldn't even figure out (p. 82-87)! Once Bilbo asked, "What have I got in my pockets?" Gollum became angry, because this wasn't a fair riddle, but Bilbo made him answer. It turns out, the ring in Bilbo's pockets was Gollum's ring that he was looking for. He chased Bilbo, trying to kill him the whole way. Bilbo slipped the ring on his finger and that turned him invisible, so Gollum couldn't see him. Bilbo escaped, and as he was running out, he heard Gollums shrieking, but kept going. Tolkien uses this to move the story forward, and it's always keeping you on your toes. This is well written. Nice response. ~Mrs. Best
Virginia Lee 3/4/11 Reading-6
You had a great description, Sarah! I definitely agree that the Bilbo vs. Gollum scene is a page-turner! Imagine being in a dark cave where you can't even see your hands right in front of you, and all of a sudden you're facing a body of water and a slimy, ugly, unknown, carnivorous being! I think life or death situations like these always keep me turning the pages, because you just can't set a book down knowing that the main character could loose his life to some mysterious creature! Obviously there would then be no story left to tell, but it is crazy how Bilbo can escape from the situation. You did a great job, but what I am wondering is how do you think this moves the story forward? (It does, but the how part is important) This was a good lit response to Sarah, but you didn't need that last question. Mrs. Best
Bell Hurula March 4, 2011 Reading 1
Good job Sarah! I picked the same conflict choice as you did! I thought that you had good detail. You also wrote a good sized paragraph too. One thing you could of HAVE NOT OF!!!! improved on was word choice and why you thought it was a "page turner". Another thing that you did swell on was describing Gollum. You added really good description about how he looked. I liked when you wrote, " The riddles went back and forth, over and over, asking riddles I couldn't even figure out!" I thought the same thing when I read that chapter! Nice response except for the improvement part. You don't need to make suggestions like that. ~ Mrs. Best
The Hobbit: Response
March 5th, 2011
The first thing that happens is Bilbo and the dwarves start hearing noises, then figure out it's the howling of the blood-thirsty wolves! Wolves can't climb trees, so the dwarves decided to climb in them. They forgot about Bilbo, but Dori, a dwarf, went back down, picked Bilbo up, and brought him up the tree. The wolves then appear, and start circling the trees when Galdolf begins to throw fire pinecones on them! The wolves howl in pain, and run away. The Lord of the Eagles Was disturbed by all the noise and thought it was the goblins, so him HE NOT HIM!! and a couple other eagles went to investigate. They see all the burned trees and bushes. Next, the goblins come and set the trees that Gandolf, Bilbo, and the dwarves were hiding in on fire. They climbed higher and higher, until they couldn't any longer. Out of nowhere, the eagles swoop down and grabbed the adventurers. They picked them up, and flew them to safety because Gandolf is friends with the eagles, and they hate the goblins for always being cruel and causing mischief. Good response. ~Mrs. Best
The Hobbit: Response March 22nd, 2011 I think an adventure is something that just happens to you. I believe God has a specific plan for everyone and everything, and he's the controller of those adventures. Yes, what you do effects the outcome of it, but to get a chance to go on an adventure is in the hands of God, and just happens. One adventure in progress that I'm in right now, is the sport of volleyball. I started playing in fifth grade, but DESPISED the sport completely! I tried again in sixth grade, and my entire opinion changed. I don't know how, but it instantly became my favorite sport once I started playing again. Then, I started club volleyball and improved immensely. Last year I played for Ozaukee Wave, and this year I am playing for G-Force in Germantown. Setter and right side hitter are the positions I play, and I love every second of it. Not only have I gained a new favorite sport and skill, but I learned to encourage on my teammates and become a team player. When we win, yes it's a great feeling, but when we lose we still respect each other, and it makes me strive to become better and do my best all the time. I think playing a team sport has made only a positive effect on me. I've made so many new friends, and even once the season's over we will all keep in touch. Another adventure our team will soon be going on, is to Minnesota for the qualifiers- we can't wait! I can relate to Bilbo because I think he liked the change in the end and this adventure has a positive effect on him, like mine. Bilbo has gained courage, and I think a new found respect for himself. When he battled the spiders (chapter 8), he proved himself to have courage, and strength. He took a risk and even though he didn't exactly have a choice to go on the adventure, the outcome was good. I am so glad I started volleyball again and will never regret it. It keeps me busy, but I absolutely, positively LOVE IT!! ~ Good response. I LOVE volleyball too! Glad you are enjoying it. ~Mrs. Best You are missing response #4
The Hobbit: Response
April 9th, 2011
I think Thorin would have regretted his greed, and given the Arkenstone to Bard, or destroyed it. I also think Tolkein is trying to teach us an extremely important life lesson that material possessions don't matter. If you have good friends, and a good life, money isn't the number one priority. Maybe if he wasn't fighting over the Arkenstone, he wouldn't have died. ~ You were to have citations for this response. It is part of the question. This is good, but too brief. I do agree with you. ~Mrs. Best
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The Hobbit
3/3/11
1. I think the best demonstration of a character vs. character conflict is when Bilbo Baggins is face to face with Gollum, small, slimy creature that was as dark as darkness, with big, pale, glowing eyes on his thin face (description on p. 79). Gollum lived on a slimy island of rock in the middle of the dark lake. It was almost pitch black in there, so Bilbo couldn't see anything. Gollum eats almost anything he can get his filthy paws on, LOVE THIS- filthy paws!!! and that includes Bilbo! They decided to have a riddle contest. Those two made a deal: If Gollum gets a riddle wrong, he would show Bilbo the way out. If Bilbo gets a riddle wrong, well, Gollum would eat him. The riddles went back and forth, over and over, asking riddles I couldn't even figure out (p. 82-87)! Once Bilbo asked, "What have I got in my pockets?" Gollum became angry, because this wasn't a fair riddle, but Bilbo made him answer. It turns out, the ring in Bilbo's pockets was Gollum's ring that he was looking for. He chased Bilbo, trying to kill him the whole way. Bilbo slipped the ring on his finger and that turned him invisible, so Gollum couldn't see him. Bilbo escaped, and as he was running out, he heard Gollums shrieking, but kept going. Tolkien uses this to move the story forward, and it's always keeping you on your toes. This is well written. Nice response. ~Mrs. Best
Virginia Lee
3/4/11
Reading-6
You had a great description, Sarah! I definitely agree that the Bilbo vs. Gollum scene is a page-turner! Imagine being in a dark cave where you can't even see your hands right in front of you, and all of a sudden you're facing a body of water and a slimy, ugly, unknown, carnivorous being! I think life or death situations like these always keep me turning the pages, because you just can't set a book down knowing that the main character could loose his life to some mysterious creature! Obviously there would then be no story left to tell, but it is crazy how Bilbo can escape from the situation. You did a great job, but what I am wondering is how do you think this moves the story forward? (It does, but the how part is important) This was a good lit response to Sarah, but you didn't need that last question. Mrs. Best
Bell Hurula
March 4, 2011
Reading 1
Good job Sarah! I picked the same conflict choice as you did! I thought that you had good detail. You also wrote a good sized paragraph too. One thing you could of HAVE NOT OF!!!! improved on was word choice and why you thought it was a "page turner". Another thing that you did swell on was describing Gollum. You added really good description about how he looked. I liked when you wrote, " The riddles went back and forth, over and over, asking riddles I couldn't even figure out!" I thought the same thing when I read that chapter! Nice response except for the improvement part. You don't need to make suggestions like that. ~ Mrs. Best
The Hobbit: Response
March 5th, 2011
The first thing that happens is Bilbo and the dwarves start hearing noises, then figure out it's the howling of the blood-thirsty wolves! Wolves can't climb trees, so the dwarves decided to climb in them. They forgot about Bilbo, but Dori, a dwarf, went back down, picked Bilbo up, and brought him up the tree. The wolves then appear, and start circling the trees when Galdolf begins to throw fire pinecones on them! The wolves howl in pain, and run away. The Lord of the Eagles Was disturbed by all the noise and thought it was the goblins, so him HE NOT HIM!! and a couple other eagles went to investigate. They see all the burned trees and bushes. Next, the goblins come and set the trees that Gandolf, Bilbo, and the dwarves were hiding in on fire. They climbed higher and higher, until they couldn't any longer. Out of nowhere, the eagles swoop down and grabbed the adventurers. They picked them up, and flew them to safety because Gandolf is friends with the eagles, and they hate the goblins for always being cruel and causing mischief. Good response. ~Mrs. Best
The Hobbit: Response
March 22nd, 2011
I think an adventure is something that just happens to you. I believe God has a specific plan for everyone and everything, and he's the controller of those adventures. Yes, what you do effects the outcome of it, but to get a chance to go on an adventure is in the hands of God, and just happens. One adventure in progress that I'm in right now, is the sport of volleyball. I started playing in fifth grade, but DESPISED the sport completely! I tried again in sixth grade, and my entire opinion changed. I don't know how, but it instantly became my favorite sport once I started playing again. Then, I started club volleyball and improved immensely. Last year I played for Ozaukee Wave, and this year I am playing for G-Force in Germantown. Setter and right side hitter are the positions I play, and I love every second of it. Not only have I gained a new favorite sport and skill, but I learned to encourage on my teammates and become a team player. When we win, yes it's a great feeling, but when we lose we still respect each other, and it makes me strive to become better and do my best all the time. I think playing a team sport has made only a positive effect on me. I've made so many new friends, and even once the season's over we will all keep in touch. Another adventure our team will soon be going on, is to Minnesota for the qualifiers- we can't wait! I can relate to Bilbo because I think he liked the change in the end and this adventure has a positive effect on him, like mine. Bilbo has gained courage, and I think a new found respect for himself. When he battled the spiders (chapter 8), he proved himself to have courage, and strength. He took a risk and even though he didn't exactly have a choice to go on the adventure, the outcome was good. I am so glad I started volleyball again and will never regret it. It keeps me busy, but I absolutely, positively LOVE IT!!
~ Good response. I LOVE volleyball too! Glad you are enjoying it. ~Mrs. Best
You are missing response #4
The Hobbit: Response
April 9th, 2011
I think Thorin would have regretted his greed, and given the Arkenstone to Bard, or destroyed it. I also think Tolkein is trying to teach us an extremely important life lesson that material possessions don't matter. If you have good friends, and a good life, money isn't the number one priority. Maybe if he wasn't fighting over the Arkenstone, he wouldn't have died. ~ You were to have citations for this response. It is part of the question. This is good, but too brief. I do agree with you. ~Mrs. Best